Flower-pot machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

s. w. CLARK. FLOWER POT MACHINE.

No. 511,587. Patented Dec; 26, 1893 'm /vmtoz v wihmaw I THE NATIONAL LIYHOGRAPNING COMPANY.

wAaHmavcn. D4 0.

. a Sheets-Shet 2.

s. w. CLARK. FLOWER POT MACHINE.

No. 511,587. PatentedDec;Z6,1893.

(No ModeL);

{No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

S. W. CLARK. v =FLOWBR POT MACHINE. f

N0. 511,587 I Patented Dec.'26, 1893.-

I l rum 7 amvea vlioz wi/lmwow V WfiM/M I M w 144% v w I r v V I a v I I I attozuu yum o.

- zen of the United States, residing at Delanco,

' Urtrrnn TATES' ATENT FFICE.

' SMITH VV. CLARK, OF DELANCO, JERSEY.

FLOWER-POT MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION'forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,587, dated December 26, 1893.

4 Application filed July 29,1892. Serial No.d41,617. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, SMITH W. CLARK, a citiin the county of Burlington and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Flower-Pots and Pottery- Ware; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which I it appertains to make and use the same.

machine.

My invention has relation to machines for making flowerpotsand analogousarticles; and it has for its principal object the assembling of a number ofjiggers for simultaneous op eration in a single machine; automatic dei livery 0f the finished pots, and automatic feed of clay to the different molds for the different jiggers, whereby a separate attendant for each jigger as heretofore required is dispensed with, the output very largely increased, and its cost very materially reduced.

My invention accordingly consists of th combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as hereinafter described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1, is a side elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodyin my improvements, the automatic feeding devices for the molds not being shown. Fig. 2, is an elevation partly broken away, and partly in section,-of the delivery end of the Fig. 3,is an elevation of the mechanism for engaging the moldsu'pport to in: terihittently rotate it. Fig. 4 is a front view of the disk with the recesses or notches in its periphery, located on the shaft for the mold support, and forming part of said engaging mechanism. Fig. 5, is a like view of the other part of said mechanism carrying the movable pin for engaging with the recesses or notches in said disk. Fig. 6, is a section pots and conveying, them to the delivery apron'or device. Fig. 9, is a plan of the automatic feeding device for the molds illustrating a relative location of the pug mill, feeding devices and the molds. Fig. 10, is a plan drawn to enlarged scale of part of the 1 feeding devices illustrating more plainly the manner of successively bringinginto position the supply of clay for injection into successive molds, and Figs. 11 and 12are sections on the lines 11 and 2-2 respectively in Fig. 10.

A represents a housing or frame ofthe machine whichemay be of any suitable configuration and construction.

B represents the plunger frame whichv is shown vertically located and having an upanddown movement.

In this frame are mounted a numberof jlggers,b, having separate spindles, b, upon each of which is suitably secured a beveled wheel, b meshing with like wheels b upon the driving shaft b connection b for pulley b will be tau t,.therejiggers as they descend into the molds. ,Such relative arrangement admits of the jiggers rotating only at such time as it is necessary for them to perform their work, they at all other times being idle or not rotating owing to the slack of the belt connection I)", as the jiggers b ascend from and descend to the molds. v l

Any suitable mechanism may be-emploved for vertically reciprocating frame B. .1 prefer a form of the same which will give the frame a slow descending motion and a quick return. In the drawings a form of mechanism is shown comprising a shaft 0, suitably mounted in frame A having fixed thereon spur-wheels c c which mesh with racks 0 secured to frame B and also a large and small pulley c 0 respectively running loose onsh aft C, and adapted for alternate engagement with the clutch box cflhaving an operating lever 0 The clutch box c is alternately engaged by revolving shaftbfin order torptate the with the wheels 0 c by the frame 13 at the end of its descending and ascending movements through the medium of a bell-crank lever 0 and lever 0 respectively located at the terminal points and in the path of movement of the frame B. The levers c c are suitably mounted in the frameA and asshown in the drawings occupy positions relatively to the frame B. See more plainly Fig. 2. The wheel 0 on shaft 0 has a straight belt connection c and the wheel 0 has a cross belt connection c with a suitable power shaft not shown in the drawings whereby when the clutch box 0 is in engagement with the wheel 0 the shaft 0 is rotated in one direction to move the frame B downwardly and when the clutch c is in engagement with the wheel c 'shaft O is reversely rotated-to cause a quick return of frame B.

To vary the length of movement of the frame 13 in making different heights or sizes of pets, the frame B is provided with any suitable form of adjustable striker arms D, D ,as shown-more plainly in Fig. 2, in which casethe upper striker arm D has the greater degree of adjustment for the dilferent heights of pots as the lower striker arm is adjusted only to compensate for the different thicknesses of the bottoms of'the difierent sizes of ots. p E represents the intermittently rotating mold support, having on opposite surfaces and on opposite sides of its shaft (2 two sets of molds F, F, as shown more plainly in Fig. 1,sothat"when rotated one set of molds is brought into line with the j iggers and the other set is moved or turned down to the underside of the frame E to admit of the ejection therefrom of the pots previously formed therein. The mold supporting frame E may be of any suitable construction and-its shaft e journaled in the frame A as desired. The molds F F may be of any suitable construction and be integral with or separate from the frame-E. I prefer the latter as they may be moved from the frame E and replaced by others of diiferent size in the making of different size of pots, in which case the jiggers I) must be changed accordingly. In the drawin s the molds F F are shown se arate from and attached to frame E, by means of fiangesf on the molds, and bolts fthe heads of which enter suitable grooves e in the supportE. Each mold is provided with any suitable ejector f one end of which forms either a part orthe whole of the bottom of the mold as is usual or as desired. Each ejector hasa head f and a reacting spring f as shown.

Any suitable means may be provided for intermittently rotating the frame E, and for actuating the ejector f In the drawings see Figs. '3 to Zinclusive the form of mechanism for actuating the support E comprises a disk G; mounted at one end upon the shaft e of frameE in the periphery of which diskare two oppositely located notches or recesses g. Parallel with disk G, and mounted upon a separate shaft h aligning with shafte is anotherdisk Izl. Upon the latter is suitably mounted a movable or sliding pin 71. which is in the plane of the disk G. The pin 71. slides in suitable bearings in the disk H, and hasa retracting spring h the tendency of which is to draw or move the pin h toward the shaft h. Projecting from the pin it or the frame to which it is attached, and passing through a radial slot h in disk 1-1 to and beyond the front face thereof, is a lug h. The shaft h, is mounted in asuitable bracket 72. and is provided with adriving pulley h, to the bracketh and in line with a recess 9 in disk G located at the terminal of its i termittent motion, is secured an inclineorcam finger 7L7, thebottom of said inclineor cam being flush with or slightlyproj ecting beyond the periphery of the disk G at saidrecess, as more plainly shown in Fig.7. From this construction it will be noted'that thepiirhwhen tracting springfor the pin it moves it into said recess to couple the disks GandH which then move together to. rotate the inoldsupporting frame E onehalf of a revolution. Before completing this half revolution the 1 lug h of pin it meets and rides. upon the cam orincline h which actsto push the pin it out of its engaging recess gin disk G at thetime said half revolution is completed, and the disk H continues revolving with the pink riding on the periphery of the disk G, until said pin meets another recess g to engage therewith and intermittently rotate the mold supporting frame E as abovedescribed. This intermittent motion of the mold supportingframe E alternately brings one set ofmolds E, into the line of the jiggers bin which location the supply of clay for each mold of the set FF is inserted or conducted into said molds as shown in Fig. 1, and the other set of molds F is turned. top-side-down below the frame E in which position the pots are ejectedfrom the molds F on to pallet boards for delivery from the machine. In this position the frameB with the j iggers descends and said frame carrying with it a finger or toe I strikes the heads f of the ejectors f which pushthe pots from the molds F onto the pa'llet board 70, which is then in position upon the pallet board support or table below said molds Fasindicated by dotted lines as Fig. 1. The pallet board supporting table K, then descends until it reaches a traveling apron'lo Whichengages and transfers the pallet with the pots therein to the place of delivery or stacking.

Any suitable pallet board support K and actuating mechanism therefor may be used. In the drawings a form of supportcomprising a frame with an open top having end ledges k and cross bar 70 at its rear top edge which frame is suspended or pivoted to one end of arms 70 the other ends of which are rigidly secured to a shaft 7G5 is shown. Secured to Y to the rods a longitudinal movement.

shaft is another arm k the free end of which is in connection with an eccentric k on shaft h whereby when shaft his revolved the pallet supporting frame K is raised to the molds F or F to receive the pots and then moved downwardly to deliver the same to the transferring apron 70. Such ascent and descent is provided for in order to move the pallet supporting frame K outof the way of the mold supporting frame E as it is rotated.

The supply of clay for each mold may be fed into it by hand but I prefer to efiect such result automatically and any suitable mechanism may be employed for such purpose, a form of which is indicated in Figs. 9 toll inclusive. L represents any suitable form of pug mill having a cutterl for dividing the clay into the proper lumps or supply for the pot to be formed and a transferring apron Z for conducting these supplies to the chutes m leading to the molds upon the support E. The chutes m are located at right angles to the transferring apron Z. In line with the chutes and extending across the apron are.

clay supply stopping and pushing rods m, the part m of said rods being used for stopping the movement of the clay with the apron so as to hold it in front of a chute-into which it is to be pushed and the part m of said rods being the pusher device for transferring the clay from the apron to the chute. These rods m, atone end m are hinged or pivoted to a swinging frame m so that all of the said rods except thelast one or that farthest away from the plug mill are free to rise and fall on their hinged connections with the frame m and the latter when moved, impart The rods m also have a lateral movement and to effect this they may be made into sections and jointed or they may be pivoted to their sleeve supports on the frame m The rods m near their outer ends m have an arm extension with roller m. The ends m of rods m project beyond the apron Z and all of them except the last one normally rest upon the top of the incline n running parallel with the apron Z and having formed therein, in line with or adjacent to the chutes m, inclined slots a said incline terminating in a bottom horizontal ledge '0 A slot 12. in the incline n isprovided for each limiting and pushing barm' except the last one in order that each successive bar m" may be automatically actuated to come into position and hold a supply of clay in position on the apron Z opposite the respective chute m, into which it is to be pushed. The incline bar at opposite the last pushing and limiting bar 771/, has its incline cut away and secured to its ledge n is ashort vertically arranged incline n for moving it laterally. This bar is never raised as it is the last bar of the series and does not haveto be out of'the way of any clay supply for the chutes ahead of it, whileall the other bars m must be raised and loweredsucccssively to admit bringing the clay supply to them. The bars m are connected to each other by links a having loose play therein, equal to the distance of lateral movement of the bars. Normally the bars are in position at the top of the incline 'n, except the last bar m, the end m of which is away from but in line with the bottom of inclinen as shown in Fig. 9, and hence said bar rests in position but slightly above the top of the apron, while all the other bars are elevated a distance therefrom sufficient to admit the clay supplies passing beneath them as they move along the apron. The first clay supply transferred to the rapidly traveling apron Z is carried with it until it meets the last bar m, against which it impinges and moves said barlaterally until its end m strikes the bottom of the incline n. by means of which, said bar is held and in turn holds said clay supply in position in front-of the pushing lug m As said last bamnoves laterally its link connection n with the next succeeding bar causes it to move into its slot '12. on the incline at through which it drops into position close to the apron Z forholding the succeeding clay supply, and said bar in turn as; it drops and moves laterally brings the next succeeding bar into position close to the apron through the medium of its link 71. and so on until all the bars'm' have'dropped into position. The swinging frame m? is then actuated to simultaneously move all the bars m lengthwise in the direction of the chutes for pushtheir respective clay suppliesinto the chutes. As the bars m move lengthwise their roller arms we ride up the incline n and are thereby raised above the apron, to one side of their slots n in said incline, so as to be in normal position for the feeding of the next clay supply. The last bar m instead of being raised is moved laterallybyits incline a The swinging frameis then reversely moved to its normal position, all the bars m moving there with but remaining in the position last described so as to be normal for successive action. Each lump of clay supply therefore moving with the apron Z meets and laterally moves the bar m against which it impinges and the lateral movement of said bar simultaneously drops the next succeeding bar close to the apron fora like impingement and movement by. the next succeeding lump of clay supply, and so on until all the barsm' have been dropped close to the apron with the clay supplies in position for being transferred to the chutes by the movement'of the frame 771. the bars as they are moved by the swinging frame to push the clay into the chutes being automatically actuated by the inclines n and n to return to their normal positions.

From the foregoing it will be noted that when the mold support E, is'in its normal position as shown in Fig. 1 after being rotated the jiggers b or the frameB is at the end of its ascent and the pallet carrying frame K, is

at the end of its descending movement, the

traveling apron 7t havingengaged with'said pallet and is transferringit tothedelivery or stacking place; thatwhensthe clay supplies arefed into themoldthe frame 13 descends, the jiggersb enter the molds the presser-foot I actuates ejectors f for pushingthe pots out of the molds adjacent to the pallet carrying frameK which meanwhile .has ascended to be in positionfor receiving the ejected pots.

1f desired the pallets may be fed to the frame K just before it reaches the terminal of its ascending movement. To effect this the,palle ts are placed upon a fixed chute p suitably located in the frameA, and are pushed onto the frame K when ascending, theend ledgesk and the rear cross bark at its top din th pal e sint p si i h re n Th pulley h on shaft It has a belt connection with :the power. driving shaft and is timed to mekaon cemplet 'evelu :f ev y to and fro movement of the jigger carrying frame B sothatiwhilethe pin, h' of disk ,I-I,

after beingunceupled from the disk, G and. is

riding around on the lewer half of itsperiphery, -ainple timeis afierded for the jiggers to form the potsin the molds and ascend, and also for the pallet carry-lug frame if, when s idr n c uple a t he d G t inte m tently rotateit. Tmprevent'thepressure ,ef

the jiggersin themqlds tilting the moldsupportingframeE during the jigger operation a su a elo r 1 ugatti a fi v d fra is provigled. as shownin ,Fig. 1, said lock being-hingedtothe .frameA and having a ,retracting spring in orderthat the frame E when. rotated may push the loci; aside in passing the same, its retracting spring causing the lock to re -engage itself with the frame at the completion of its rotation. The apron'k' may removethe pallet. with the pots thereon from the supporting frame K by frictional contact between the apron and the bottom of the pallet, orif desired suitablelugs may be attached to theapron for engaging iththe edge ,of the pallet, .in which case suitable openingsk will beformed in the cross bar 7& ofthe frame K, for thelugs to pass through to effect such engagement.

Lromgthe foregoing it will be noted that the cut-supplies of clay from thepug-mill L arefirst positioned on theapron Z and then advanced or pushed simultaneously into the respective chutes m from which they drop into a. series of molds F then in their receiving position or on the top side of the mold supporting frame E. Theframe B with the rotating jiggers, then descends to form the pot in the mold; said frame E remainingstationary until thepots are formed at which time.

it makesa half revolution; the frame B and; its jiggers' having previously ascended to be out of the wayof the rotating mold-frame E. As the latter rotates to carry the finished pots in the molds to the pallet supporting-frame K a pallet is fed thereon by hand,gravity or other wise as desired so as to'be in position for receiving the pots as they are ejected from the molds by bar f striking the ejectors the actuating devices for said essentials as shown, as the same maybe variously changed without departing from the spirit of the in- .vention which hasfor its fundamental idea thelassembling of a number of ,melclsnnd a g r i t s me mach ne uto atwel y ejecting]theifinished pots from. themelds and transferring them to the delivery or stacking s tio andifi y toma i allyfeediq h clay supplies to the. molds.

It isevident that if desired the automatic fe di ev h inte m tte y re in suppo and pell e yi fram me b app t -Siflgle aswell as to 1 1 1191 ji fl machines.

What I claimis- 1. In afiower pot machinethe combination of vertically moving and rotating jiggers, of a mold supporting frame mounted on a horizontallylocatedshaft and havingi molds on itsopposite sides, ejectors in saidmolds, and actuating mechanism for automatically imparting an intermittent. rotary motion to said mold supporting frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fiowerpot machine a. mold supporting. frame mounted on a. horizontally located shaft, molds on the. upper and lower. side of said suppfirtingframe, ejectors forallthe molds and actuating mechanism in engagementwith said shaft for automaticalliyimparting an intermittent rotation to. themold supportingframe and. causing it to dwell betweenaltcrnate rotations for forming the potsin the molds on theupper side (ofthe supporting frame substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination in a flower pot machine of a, mold-supporting frame mountedupon a horizontal shaft, molds on opposite. sides of said frame, ejectors for the molds, and actuatingmechanism for automatically imparting an intermittent rotary motion to l the mold frame, substantially as set forth.

. 4. .The combination of a rotating jigger and its actuat ng mechanism, a. mold supportingframe separate from thejigger. molds on. op-

posite sides of saidframaan ejectoriu each mold, and actuating mechanism for said ejectors and for the mold supporting-frame, substantially as set. forth.

5. The combination of a rotating jigger a mold supporting frame separate from the jigger, a pallet carrying-frame, and actuating devices, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a vertically sliding jigger frame mechanism secured to said frame for rotating said jiggers, a mold supporting frame having molds with the ejecting devices on opposite sides of the frame, means for intermittently rotating said frame, a pallet carrying frame and actuating devices for the jigger, mold ejector and pallet carrying frame substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a vertically sliding jigger frame having a quicker return than descent and intermittently rotating mold supporting frame having molds on opposite sides, ejectors for said molds,a movable pallet supporting frame and actuating devices substantially as set forth.

8. In a pottery machine, a mold whichreceives the clay and in which the clay is formed or jigged with the open top of the mold upward by a jigger separate from the mold and in which the finished product is ejected from the mold with its open top downward, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a frame carrying a number of jiggers, a mold supporting-frame independent of the jiggers and having on opposite sides a series of molds corresponding in number to the jiggers, a pallet carryingframe, feeding devices for the molds, and actuating mechanism, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a series of vertically sliding and rotating jiggers, a mold supporting frame having molds with ejecting devices plies to difierent molds on opposite sides of the frame, means for intermittently rotating said frame, a pallet'carrying frame actuating devices for the jiggers, mold ejector and pallet carrying frame, feeding devices for automatically supplying a charge of clay to the empty molds and actuating devices for said feeding devices substantially as set forth.

11. In a feeding device for simultaneously conveying a number of successive stiff clay supplies to a series of molds a cutting device for dividing the clay into charges of the required bulk, means for positioning said charges apart from each other and adjacent to the molds into which they are to be delivered, and mechanism for discharging simultaneously all of the separate charges into their respective molds substantially as set forth.

12. In a feeding device for simultaneously conveying a number of successive clay supthe combination of a clay supply forming device a traveling apron or conductor device and a series of limiting and pusher rods constructed for operation and having actuating devices substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature-in presence of two witnesses 7 v SMITH W. CLARK.

Witnesses:

S. J. VAN STAVOREN, CHAS. F. VAN HORN. 

